Window casing



Nov. 23, 1954 H. K. CYMARA 2,694,839

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United States Patent WINDOW CASING Hermann K; Cymara, Ithaca, N. Y.

Application January 14, 1954, Serial No. 403,993

liClairn. (Cl'. 20--12) This invention" relates to windows and particularly to the double hung sliding sash type as most commonly used in dwellings. Such windows normally slide up and down in grooves made by sash guide-strips or stops. Their frames are generally made of wood, and'even when very accurately fitted at the time of construction they tend to become either loose or tight due to the effects of weather on the wood, and'eitherrattle orcannot be moved. In order to correct that difficultythe sash guidestrips are sometimes made adjustable and numerous systems have been devised for that purpose. In most cases however the adjustment has required the use of tools or going outside to work. While they have been suitable for a carpenter or a handyman, the adjustments have not been easily made by the average person, particularly a housewife. Furthermore, much of the variation has been the result of seasonal changes in the weather, the frames swelling in warm and Wet Weather and shrinking in the cold dry winter, so that adjustments, even if correct at a given time, are not permanent.

The present invention is directed to providing an easy means of adjustment from inside the room which can be operated by any person by simply turning some handles or knobs. The latter can be made sufiiciently attractive to add rather than detract from the appearance of the room, and the adjustment is so simple that anyone can operate it. The improved system can easily be installed at little cost. Another object of the invention is to facilitate the removal of both sashes of the window from the inside for washing or repair. Still another object is to provide a means for firmly locking both sashes of the window by a clamping friction in addition to the usual methods for locking such windows against intruders. Various other objects incidental to the foregoing will become apparent as the description proceeds.

Referring now to the drawings forming part of this specification Fig. l is a vertical cross-sectional view, partly in elevation, of a double hung window and easing showing the adjusting and clamping system.

Fig. 2 is a detail View of the upper end of the center sash guide strip, showing the means at its upper end for locking it in place in the groove in which it stands.

Fig. 3 is a detail cross-sectional view of the inside sash strip with its adjusting screws, rods, and control knobs; alsothe center sash guide strip partly sunk in the frame.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the retainer for a knob and control rod, there shown inverted for the sake of clearness. 7

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts thruout the various views.

Referring now to Fig. l, the window casing 1 having a sill 1 is provided with an upper sash frame 2 having a glass pane 2 and also with a lower window sash frame 3 having a glass pane 3. Between the two frames 2 and 3 and along each side of the window casing 1 is a fixed central guide strip 4 partly sunk in the groove 4 in the window casing 1, as indicated in cross-section in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, this central guide strip 4 being normally stationary but capable of easy removal if desired to facilitate the removal of both window sashes by a person working solely from the inside of the room. The bottom end of the central guide strip 4 fits into a socket 5 in the lower window sill casing 1' while the upper end of the strip 4 terminates just short of the upper part of the window casing 1 and is provided with a sliding lock or extension 6 which can be moved into 2; the socket 7 3 in the casing 1 in orderto hold thestrip 4' in place. The-strip-4is firmly securedagainst lateral movement under pressure by being partly sunk in the groove 4' as stated.

The' inside sash guide'strip10 and the outside guide strip 10 are both laterally adjustable by controls operable from the inside of the-room as will be described. Taking up first the inside sash' guide strip 10 and referring to Fig. 1 and Fig. 3, there is provided on the sides 11 of the window casing l a pair of shallow narrow grooves orchannels lZ as shown in Fig. 1, each channel being just large enough to accommodate an adjusting rod-14 asshow-n ona larger-scale-in Fig. 3. Onone end of each, rod 14 there is a perpendicular pin or hook 14"extending 'into' a socket in thesash guide strip 10; and the other end' of the rod'is threaded as at'15 and extends thruan internally threaded knob or handle 16. The knob is held from. axial movement by the retainer 18, which also has a tongue 19- liolding down the rod 14 in the groove 12; This retainer is shown more in detail. in Fig; 4, inverted to more clearly show the construction. When the knobs16 are turned, the inside sash guide strip is-moved in and out. This simple adjustment tightens or loosens the contact of the lower sash 3 with its guide strips.

Similar rods 20 in the channels 21 extend out to the sash guide strips 10 on the outside of the upper sash 2, the only dilference being that the rods 20 and channels 21 are longer and extend under the inner and central sash guide strips so as not to interfere with them. The rods 20 are operated by the knobs 23 in substantially the same manner as the knobs 16. In some windows the upper sash is rabbeted out to allow it to partly overhang the central sash guide strip 4. In that case the rods 20 and knobs 23 are useful to move the outer guide strips 10' outward to permit the removal of the central guide strip 4.

From the inside of the room the apparatus has the appearance of an ordinary double hung window except that on both the right and left sides of the casing there are the control knobs described. Without leaving the room various useful operations may be performed. If the windows have become too tight or sticky from swelling or warping, the pressure of the appropriate sash guide strip can be cased by turning the knobs one way; or if the windows become too loose and rattle or admit wintry air, they can simplv be corrected by turning the knobs in the other direction. If for any reason it is desired to clamp the windows firmlv so that they are locked in place and cannot be opened from the outside by hand, the knobs can be turned up even more firmly.

At times it may be desirable to remove the window sashes from the casing. and with the present device that can also be done entire v from inside the room. To do that the inner sash guide strip is removed, releasing the lower window sash. which can then be brought out into the room. Then the locking tip 6 at the too of the central guide strip 4 is moved down. the stri 4 is swung inward and lifted from its lower socket 5. This releases the up er window sash 2 which can then a so be removed into the room for washing or repair. The same operation exposes the sash cords for rep ir. and also the covers over the sash cord wei hts. These features of convenience and security can readily be obtained at relatively little cost, either as applied to existing double hung Windows or when built in factory made types. While particularly adapted to windows made of wood, the im rovements described herein can also of course be applied to windows made with metal.

Tn the drawings the clearances between parts are somewhat exa gerated for clarity of representation. It will be understood that in practice the amount of travel of a sash guide strip required to change a very tight window to a very loose one is very small, hard y m re than a sixteenth of an inch at most, and that the width of the sash guide strip so greatly exceeds that as to insure at all times that the groove or channels 12 and 21 leading from the inside to the strips are covered bv the stop 10f andstop 10 against ingress of airfrom the .outside.

The "adjusting rods in practice 'so nearly fill the grooves or channels 12 and 21 that they can act as transverse guides for the movement of the outer and inner sash guide strips, though additional guides may be permanently mounted on the window casing if desired and dovetailed into the strips. The retainers 18 may practically cover the entire opening of the grooves 12 and 21 so far as they can be seen on the inside, and they may be countersunk if a smooth face is desired, in which case the whole apparatus except the control knobs is practically invisible. The retainers 18 may also be made integral with the knob base 17 if desired so that they all can be readily removed together to entirely clear the window.

Though the construction even without packing leaves little chance for leakage of air thru the parts, it may be desirable in some cases to line the side of the sash guide strips with weather stripping or other facing material where they contact the sash, and of course the grooves 12 and 21 may also be packed if desired in the space around the rods 14 and 20 where they go under the strips and elsewhere, though that is hardly necessary.

While I have in the foregoing described certain specific forms by way of example, it will be understood that they are merely for purposes of illustration to make clear the principles of the invention, which is not limited to the particular forms shown, but is susceptible to various modifications and adaptations in different installations 25 Number as will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as stated in the following claim.

I claim:

In a double hung window, the combination of a window casing, an upper sash, a lower sash, a central sash guide strip fixed against lateral displacement, a laterally adjustable outside sash guide strip for the upper sash, a laterally adjustable inside sash guide strip for the lower sash, the sides of said window casing having transverse channels, said channels extending to the under sides of said outside and inside sash guide strips, adjusting rods for the adjustable sash guide strips, said rods extending along said channels and having pins perpendicular to the rods, said pins being secured to said sash guide strips at one end, the other end of the adjusting rods being threaded, control knobs on said threaded ends of the rods to move them axially, whereby the adjustable sash guide strips may be moved in and out, and retainers for said rods and knobs.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Snider Aug. 26, 1947 Nutter Jan. 1, 1952 

